Home > College of Arts and Sciences > Department of Political Science
Department of political science
Pre-Law Advice for Students
| Frequently Asked Questions: |
| 1. |
What grade point average do I need to get into law school? Law Schools look at the kind of courses taken as well as the numbers. A 2.05 in Physics may be more impressive than a 4.00 in basket weaving. If you click on the Online Law School Locator below, you will find the median GPA and LSAT scores for every accredited law school. |
| 2. |
What should I major in to get into law school? There is no one major that will assure acceptance into law school nor do law schools prefer students with one major over another. Law schools look for students who can read, write, and reason well. |
| 3. |
What courses should I take to get into law school? Take lots of courses that require extensive reading and writing. Law schools look for students with a broad, varied background, who are capable of dealing with complex problems logically. (If you do not want to spend the rest of your life reading large, difficult books, do not be a lawyer.) |
| 4. |
How can I find out about the LSAT? The following people have information about the LSAT and you can get the application book from any of them. In addition, you can order the application from Law Services Administration at 215-968-1314 or click on the Law Service icon below. |
| 5. |
Can I prep for the LSAT? Because Law Services, which makes the test, publishes a prepcourse, you can prep for the test. The prep course published by Law Services is on permanent reserve in the Political Science Department, along with the Kaplan Information Test Booklet. (Click on the Kaplan icon below.) Law Services states that the best prep is studying from the old LSATs, which you can order for $6.00. (Click on the Law Services icon below.)
The best preparation for law school is courses which demand you think and argue clearly. Philosophy 202 (logic) is recommended, along with any upper division course which makes you express reasons for your conclusions in writing.
The VSU Bookstore carries books to help you prepare. No book will help you prepare if you don't read it and follow the directions.
The LSAT prep course from Law Services is on permanent reserve in the Political Science Department. |
| 6. |
Would it help if (insert the name of any official) writes me a letter of recommendation? No. If the person does not know you well, the letter is useless. Letters of recommendation should be written by people who can discuss your abilities to read, write, and think clearly. Attempts to influence admissions committees outside of the recommendation process don't work. |
| 7. |
What should I write in my letter to the law school? Imagine you stand before the committee and you have five minutes to convince them to let you into law school. You cannot plead, bribe, or threaten, but you may say anything else. On permanent reserve in the Political Science Department is the Southern Association of Pre-Law Advisors Handbook which contains suggestions and sample letters. |
|
| |
If you would like to subscribe to a pre-law student discussion list,
please do the following through e-mail:
1. Address your request to: listserv@american.edu
2. In the main body of the letter, type in the following text:
subscribe prelaw-students [your first name] [your last name] |
